The Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI)

Overview

The Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI) was announced in February 2006 to support research that will lead to the understanding of genetic contributions and gene-environment interactions in common disease. GEI is planned and led by an NIH-wide Coordinating Committee, administratively led by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

Implementation of GEI began with a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) component that comprises three elements:

The GWA component of GEI is administratively led by NHGRI on behalf of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Curated data will be made available through a controlled-access process in a central database established by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) for research use (dbGaP).

One of the initial decisions of the NIH-wide Coordinating Committee was that the genetic component of GEI should not be limited only to the collection of GWA genotype data. In this way, the GEI genetics component differs from the Genetic Association Information Network (GAIN). Support for data analysis, replication and fine mapping studies, sequencing, functional studies, database development and clinical translation are all included within GEI.

Meetings and Workshops

GEI Retreat 2 [genesandenvironment.nih.gov]
Meeting held to discuss possible next steps for GEI, which is in its last year of funding. The focus of the meeting was on possible GxE interaction "signature" projects demonstrating the importance of investigating genetics and environment together. July 28, 2010

Genes and Environment Initiative Retreat
Meeting to explore opportunities to integrate the Exposure Biology and Genetics components of GEI. Participants were invited to discuss possible avenues for funding beyond FY10, and the scopes and mechanisms to move into a "Phase II" of GEI. September 2, 2009

Translation of Common Disease Genetics into Clinical Applications (RFA DK-08-004) [grants.nih.gov]
Encourages studies that propose a) clinical studies using information from genome wide association or other genetic studies in common diseases; b) development and assessment of diagnostic, clinical trial, epidemiologic and risk analytic tools for use in clinical research or practice; and c) cost-effectiveness studies of clinical applications of genetic information.

Genetics Resources

The Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI) is an NIH-wide initiative that aims to accelerate understanding of genetic and environmental contributions to health and disease. There are two components to GEI: genetics and exposure biology. The genetics component includes a genome-wide association program called GENEVA (Gene Environment Association Studies).